Career event offers students a look at their possible futures

Threatening rain didn't stop colleges from recruiting Pea Ridge High School students, but the storm clouds did force them to move from the football field to the indoor practice facility.

On Thursday the high school hosted "Future Fest: Exploring Your Options After Graduation."

While the dozen colleges were a big draw, so were area businesses in attendance.

Seniors Ashley Thielemier and Stephanie Wood were both impressed by the number of colleges attending the event.

"A&M has a booth here, there's a lot of variety," Ashley noted.

She's currently in physical therapy for a sports-related injury she suffered last fall. That's opened her eyes to the possibilities.

"I didn't realize that physical therapists work with people and animals," she said. "I'm drawn to nursing and veterinary -- physical therapy, I could do both."

She noted that the idea of college doesn't scare her; rather, she's approaching it as a simple life change that will take getting use to.

Stephanie plans to become a nurse because she wants to help people in need. Facing college, she never doubted she's going to college, but in her senior year, it's become reality, not just an idea.

Senior Ian Withrow, having talked to a number of college recruiters, was milling about a snack table with friends with when high school principal Jon Laffoon walked by and told a reporter: "He was in my office more than any other student his sophomore year. Boy, I'm proud of what he's done."

Ian smiled as he laughed a nervous laugh.

"I got my mind right; I was late to class a lot," Ian said. Now, rather than thinking about what caused him to miss class, he's thinking about college.

"It's been a process," he said about considering college.

"Now it's putting more stress on my 'I'm trying to find a place to go.' He'll soon be taking the ACT, and knows how important that single test can be in determining his future," Laffoon said.

"I want to be a diesel mechanic," Ian said. "NTI (Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale) is a two-year (program). I've looked into it. But Arkansas Tech (in Russellville) and Pitt State (in Pittsburg, Kan.) are good programs but are a bit longer -- four years."

He noted that at NTI he can get a full scholarship, but Pitt State also offers good assistance. He was quiet for a moment, lost in his struggle to decide.

Asked what's changed since he started getting to class on time, without hesitation he answered, "My freshman year I was all 'D' and 'C', now I'm all 80s (B's). I got focused on things, and learned to get help when you need it, to not wait until it's too late. That's the biggest thing you can learn in school --get help if you don't understand.

"I was worried about getting all cool, about what people thought," Ian said. "I don't worry about that now."